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Mattingly ponders 26-man roster rule

BALTIMORE -- The Collective Bargaining Agreement rule that allows clubs a 26-man roster for day-night doubleheaders only applies if the twin bill is scheduled at least 48 hours in advance.

So, it would not apply on Saturday, with the Dodgers and Orioles set to play two after Friday night's rainout.

Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said on Saturday he didn't know why the rule change was designed that way. He came up with a hypothetical situation where it would have been handy.

"Say [Hyun-Jin] Ryu had pitched three innings last night, and [the game] gets called," Mattingly said. "So he couldn't pitch today, and I've got to find another starter and play two games. Today is when you could really use another arm."

Mattingly suspected the rule excluded makeups like the current one because it might give an advantage to the home club, which could recall a Minor Leaguer faster than the visiting team. It would have been virtually impossible for the Dodgers to get a player from Triple-A Albuquerque to Baltimore in time for Saturday's Game 1.

Ken Gurnick is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.